Child with multiple ecchymoses … is it abuse?

Authors

  • Sara Pimentel Marcos Pediatric Service of Hospital de São Francisco Xavier, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental
  • Margarida Valério Pediatric Service of Hospital de São Francisco Xavier, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental
  • Maria Manuel Vilhena Pediatric Service of Hospital de São Francisco Xavier, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25753/BirthGrowthMJ.v24.i1.8577

Keywords:

Child abuse, bleeding disorder, ecchymoses, von Willebrand disease

Abstract

Case report: Child abuse is a public health problem; bleeding disorders can mimic some of these situations. We alert to this problem reporting a case of suspected child abuse in a toddler with multiple ecchymoses. The history and clinical evaluation, including coagulation tests, achieved the diagnosis of severe type I von Willebrand disease failing to prove social dysfunction.

Comments: Physical abuse suspicion in children with bruising symptoms should raise the concern of a potentialbleeding disorder. Laboratory tests should be done on the basis of patient and family history, physical examination and prevalence of bleeding conditions. Nonetheless, laboratory testing indicating the presence of a bleeding disorder does not exclude concomitant child abuse and social monitoring and vigilance should be maintained.

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References

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Published

2016-02-22

How to Cite

1.
Marcos SP, Valério M, Vilhena MM. Child with multiple ecchymoses … is it abuse?. REVNEC [Internet]. 2016Feb.22 [cited 2025May23];24(1):37-40. Available from: https://revistas.rcaap.pt/nascercrescer/article/view/8577

Issue

Section

Case Reports

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